It was launched in 2011, and has already grown from one event to 11 last year.

In five years, Singapore-based mixed martial arts promotions company ONE Championship has made inroads in China and the Middle East, and secured partnerships with big companies like Disney, Canon and Under Armour.

It even has plans for an initial public offering on the Singapore Exchange in the next two or three years, said chairman Chatri Sityodtong, in a recent interview with The Business Times.

To further expand their business, ONE announced yesterday three key additions to their senior management team: Pithambar Gona, Kevin Sim and Kevin Matas.

Gona, the former managing director of investment firm Blackstone, will serve as ONE's chief financial officer, while Matas, who was in charge of Red Bull's social media platforms in the US, will be head of marketing.

Sim, a former marketing director at MP & Silva, will be head of media rights sales.

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ONE chief executive Victor Cui said: "I am thrilled to announce the addition of world-class business leaders at ONE Championship to drive our next stage of global growth.

"Without a doubt, we sit here today as Asia's most successful sports media property in history because of the amazing leaders and staff at ONE Championship.

"With the addition of Preet (Pithambar), Kevin, Matas, and Sim, our senior leadership team is now the most globally seasoned corporate leadership team in the entire sports media industry in Asia. I have never been more excited for the future of ONE Championship."

In addition to the recruits, ONE also has the likes of vice-president and former UFC star Rich Franklin, and shareholder and Filipino boxing legend, Manny Pacquiao, among its ranks.

Describing itself as "Asia's largest sports media property with a global broadcast to one billion homes across more than 75 countries", ONE will hold the Ascent to Power event at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on Friday.

The event will see Singapore-based Angela Lee face off against Japan's Mei Yamaguchi for the inaugural women's atomweight world title.